You're not alone

Part 27

The rest of the day Meredith spent with Andrew. They were doing some of their homework together, when Meredith got tired after lunch they took a nap together and afterwards while Meredith was still sleepy she got to sleep some more on Andrew's lap again while he was playing video games.

Right now she was watching as he was playing, following his moves and the scenes on the monitor, trying to understand the game. After what had happened this morning she had thought a lot. They were in love with each other. Did that mean that they were a couple now? And if yes- were they supposed to do couply things like kissing or going on dates. Well, they already lived together and like this they already spent most of their days with each other and dating wouldn't make a lot of sense. But Meredith was still curious about the kissing thing. She had never kissed anyone. Had Andrew? Had he already had his first kiss? And- what else did couples do? Would Jolene even be okay with them being together?

"Andrew?" Meredith asked, pulling on his arms which were laying over her stomach, holding the controller. "Mhm?" he gave back absently. "You- you know what we talked about this morning?" she begun, not sure how to ask him. "Yeah?" he said, frowning slightly. "Uhm- are we- in a relationship now? I mean- we love each other I guess. So, does this mean we're a couple now?" she asked, cuddling further into him. Now that she had asked, Andrew paused the game and took off his headphones, focusing entirely on Meredith.

"I'm not sure. Do you want us to be a couple?" he asked, adjusting the blanket around her that had slipped down a little. "I'm not sure what that would mean." She admitted quietly, slowly moving her hand into his. "Well, I think we would have to figure that out. I'm not really sure either." He replied, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. "And- are we going to kiss each other?" she then asked what took him by surprise. Luckily Meredith was facing away from him so that she couldn't see his cheeks turning bright red.

"Uhm- I don't know. I think so, yeah." He whispered, making her turn around, sitting down on his lap again but facing him now, looking directly into his eyes. "And what if- something happens and we break up again? Would we still be friends?" Meredith said, looking down. She was thinking once again about what could happen at that clinic in case she would actually be admitted. Would it change her in a way it would also change Andrew's feelings about her. "Mer. I've known you for about three years now. And do you know for how long I've already been in love with you?" he asked, continuing as she shook her head. "Three years. I fell in love with you the moment I met you. And I don't think, no I am actually one hundred percent sure that I can't fall out of love with you. Like- ever. You know? I will always love you. I can't imagine my life without you. And I know that we're only thirteen but- I don't need to get any older and I don't want to wait any longer because I know that you are the one person I want to spend the rest of my life with."

"Really?" Meredith asked, a small smile appearing on her lips. "Of course." He gave back, stroking her cheek carefully. Pushing her thoughts and that feeling of overwhelm aside she closed her eyes and leaned closer to him, gently placing her lips on his for a few seconds. Andrew at the same time closed his eyes as well, laying his arms around Meredith's small waist, pulling her closer. As they pulled away again and both opened their eyes Meredith giggled quietly what made him smile brightly as both their cheeks were blushing brightly. "I like kissing you." She mumbled, still smiling brighter than he had ever seen her smile. "I like kissing you too." He said, looking directly into her emerald green eyes.

Suddenly the door flew open and their little moment was interrupted by Jolene walking into the room. "Mom! You can't just walk in like that! You have to knock!" Andrew said, pulling Meredith closer so that she was now laying on his chest. "I'm sorry I didn't know that you were doing something in here that would be considered knock-worthy." She laughed, her heart melting at how adorable they looked. "I just wanted to tell you that dinner is ready and that grandma and grandpa spontaneously stepped by and that they're eating with us." She said, focusing her eyes especially on Meredith, trying to read from her expression whether she was in the right state to deal with them now or not. But something seemed different. She was smiling brightly which was- wierd.

Jolene's parents visiting always had been a challenge for Meredith since she's never had grandparents and didn't really know how to act around them and always got overwhelmed by trying to have a conversation with them. So, it was a little surprising to Jolene that this big smile wasn't leaving Meredith's lips as she mentioned her parents. "Great." Andrew said, helping Meredith put on her prothesis and then stand up. "Why are the two of you smiling so brightly?" Jolene asked, already having an idea of what could be the reason since she hadn't seen them so close together ever since this whole lovers-but-also-siblings-drama had started.

"No reason." Andrew said while Meredith just nodded, awkwardly standing next to him. "Alright." Jolene said slowly, turning around again and letting them follow her downstairs. "Ciao ai miei due nipotini!" Jolene's mother Martina exclaimed, opening her arms widely to great her two grandchildren with a bright smile on her face. Back then when Jolene had told them that she had taken Meredith in as a foster child and considered adopting her one day she had been extremely relieved as her parents had been nothing but excited about that.

While Andrew quickly ran into his grandmother's arms Meredith was a little more hesitant but as Martina opened her arms even wider she slowly moved into the hug as well. "Ciao Andrea, ciao Meredith." Matteo, Jolene's father, added from behind his wife, smiling at both of them just as bright.

Sitting down to dinner the conversation between Andrew and his grandparents kept going like usual while Meredith just listened, focusing on her food rather then on the talking. Jolene kept an eye on her since somehow her behaviour was- different- but in a good way what confused her. But as her parents started talking in Italian again she looked at them warningly, making them go back to English so that Meredith would understand what they're saying. It wasn't because Meredith might feel excluded since she still didn't like talking to many people at the same time but just because Meredith would get anxious if she wouldn't understand what they were saying and scared that they would talk bad about her or that she was doing something wrong. But somehow Meredith kept smiling the whole time during dinner, not even paying attention to what was going on around her but Jolene also didn't want to ask her now since she knew how much the little girl hated if everyone's attention would be drawn to her. So, she kept her mouth shut and hoped she would get the chance to ask Meredith later on. Whatever was going on here, she was soon going to find out. 

I love writing this story so much!!! Little Mer and Andrew are just sooo cute in my imagination!!!